Bean nipping machine



0d. 1l, 1932- B, l, BUCK 1,882,481

BEAN NIPPING MACHINE Filed June 2. 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 0llllllllllillllHlllIllIl H1 @hm H Ilmhrr. l HUM im?? Oct. 11, 1932. B.l. BUCK BEAN NIPPING' MACHINE Filed June 2. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct.11, 1932.v B. LBUCK Y BEAN NIPPING MACHINE Filed June 2. 19251 I5Sheets-Sheet 3 a6 L75 q2 74 70 37 q i 'L 4I:

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Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES BENJAMIN I. BUCK, 0F LINEBOBO,MARYLAND BEAN NIPPING MACHINE Application filed June 2, 1931.

My invention relates to improvements in bean nipping machines, and has to do, more particularly, with improvements; in the con` struction ofautomatic bean nipping 'machines of the rotary drum type, in which thebean pods enclosed' within the drum are thrown, by the rotation of thedrum, endwise against the perforated wall thereof, causing the ends ofthe bean pods to protrude through the perforations in the wall and besubjected to the cutting action of an externally mounted knife to snipsaid protruding ends.

This application is a continuation, in part, of my copendingapplication, Serial No. l73,827, iiled August 8, 1930. 'l

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a bean nippingmachine which will snip the ends from bean pods more rapidly and moreeiliciently than any machines in use, with which I am familiar. That isto say, my object is to provide a Inachine which will snip the ends froma given quantity of bean pods in ashorter time, and do it moreeffectively, snipping both ends from a larger percentage of the beanpods treated. It is a further object of my invention to provide a speedyand efficient machine cf this character, which can be manufactured at alower cost than themachines now inl general use.

Gne object of my invention is to provide a bean nipping machinehavingimproved means for upending the bean pods and di-l recting them endwiSeagainst the perforated side wall of the drum,and, further, to provide adrum having moreperforations per Aunit of surface, thus rendering themachine more effective.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ina-chine of thischaracter having a Serial No. 541,655.

scribed in the following specification. My invention is clearly definedand pointed out in the appended claims. A structure con-` stituting a`preferred embodiment `of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this'specification, in which,-f

Figure l is a topjplan view of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a vertical, sectional view through the machine, taken on the line 2 2of'Fig. l; Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view through the revolubledrum, taken 0n the 'line '3--3 of Fig. 2.; Y

ig. 4 is a detail, `sectional view of thel mounting for the upper knifeand gage plate, v taken :on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig; 5 is aperspective view vofthe lower knife supporting bar, knife and vgageplate, an Y Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the upper'knife andgage plate, and a `portion of the drum, showing a series lof bean podsin dotted lines, to illustrate the cooperation` of these parts inseveringtgaged portions from the ends vof the bean pods. Y Y

In the drawings, the same reference nui merals indicate the same parts`throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the arrows 4at the ends of the section lines.

In general, .my rinvention consists in providing a revoluble drum havinga. perforated Y side wail a-nd a plurality of longitudinal tumbling rodswithin the drum, so `located as to upend thefbean pods Within lthe drumand cause them to be thrown endwise against the perforated Wall as'- thedrumrevolves. and a knife Vor knives mounted outside ofv the drumvand solocated that the ends of pods protruding through the side Wall pei'vforations will be presented to the cutting edge of the knife Iandsnipped off.. Thel perforations should be of such size as' to permit thetapered unsnipped ends of ordinarybean pods to protrude therethroughsufficiently to snip off the proper amount. lThe more per forationsvprovided in the side wall of the drum, the more efficient the machinewill be,

as the chances are greater vofapod,"throwfn as it revolves, so tiat theamount of pro- A against the wall, protruding through a perforation. Thetumbling rods perform an important function in directing the podsendwise against theiwall, and, being spaced therefrom, I am able toprovide closely ad* jacent perforationsl throughout substantially theentire wall area,.thusr-ndering my ma-V chine very efficient. I preferto provide a pair of knives, an upper and a lower one, and propose toemploy gage plates so located that they engage protruding pod ends andadjust them radially inward through the perforat-ions toward the axis ofthe-drum,

trusion is governed and no more than the desired portion is severed fromthe end of the pod. .This feature also adds considerably to theefficiency of my machine.

v'Referring to the numbered parts of the 1 drawings, the specificmachine here illustrated comprises a revoluble drum formed by the spacedheads ll, keyed on shaft 10, andthe cylindrical side -wall l2, formed bya sheet of metal fastened to the edges of the vhead and provided with amultiplicity of l thin enough. An opening for charging and dischargingis formed in the drum wall, and closed bya removable lid I4, which lidis also perforated so as to constitute, in effect, a portion of theoperative surface of the drum. I provide a plurality of tumbling rodsl5, which extend longitudinally of they drum parallel to shaft 10.rIhese rods are-spaced from the lperforated wall being located,-in

the machine illustrated, inwardly from said wall a distance which isabout one-third of the drum radius. These rods are fixed to the drum, asby extending the rods l5 through the heads 1l and clamping them in placeby nuts 16 screwed on the rods ony opposite sides of the heads. As thedrum revolves, due to. the cooperative action of the tumbling rods,

. the pods within the .drum will bedirected LII endwise against the sidewall and protruded through perforations therein, the ends of theprotruding pods being engaged by the rgage plates 18 and the podsadjusted in the perforations 13 before meeting the cutting edge of thecorresponding knife 17, so that only the proper portion of the pod endis severed by the knife;

The shaft vis journaled in'bearings 20 carried -by the inclined members2l of a frame or stand, which includes the upper crossfbar 22lower crossbar 23, front and rear legs, 25 and 24, and the transverse meinbers 26.I have mounted on the stand an electric motor 27, for revolving thedrum, which motor is connected, through reducvtion gearing 28 with ashaft 29, the latter being connected through clutch 30 with shaft l0.The clutch is operated, to connect or disconnect shaft l0 and thedriving shaft 29, by lever 3l fulciumed at 32 and having the actuatingrod 33 and handle 34 connected thereto. A hand wheel 35 is fixed on theopposite end of shaftl 10, by which the drum connected. To this framethere is fastened a` curved sheet of metal, perforated as is the sidewall, and constituting, when the lid is in place, a continuation of theside wall. projecting from one of the heads Il is lodged in a hole inone o-f the end bars 37 of the lid frame. At ba corresponding point intheV opposite head ll, there is mounted a spring-pressed bolt 42, whichis projected by spring 44, acting on a cross pin 43, into a hole 41 inthe adjacent endbar 37 of the lid frame. A handle 45 is provided forretracting bolt 42, and a strap 46 fastened to and spaced from this endof 'the lid frame forms a handle by which the lid may be removed whenbolt 42 is retracted. Bolt 42 and pin 40 cooperate to hold the lidfirmly in place while the drum is being rotated.

The upper knife 17 and gage plate 1S are mounted as follows. Hingemembers 48L are fastened on the upper cross bar 22 of the stand andhinge members 50 are hinged thereto by pintles 49. Each member 50 has alug 56 extending at right angles to the body thereof.Y A'knife-supporting'bar 5l adjustably mounted on members 50, said barhaving, at its ends, flanges 52-eiitending at right angles to the barand seated on members 50; Bolts 53, screwed into members 50, extendthrough. elongated slots 54 in flanges A pin 52, and bolts l57, providedwith lock nuts 56 and 59, pass through bar 5l and lugs 56. Thus the bar5l, and the knife 17 and gage plate 18 carried thereby, may be.accurately positioned and fixed in the position to which adjusted. Theupper knife 17 is a fiat bar having the cutting edge 6l and lies againstbar 51, and is bolted thereto by bolts 60, with the cutting edge 6lremote from members 50. The knife 17, of course, extends the full lengthof the drum. The` gage plate 18 is formed of a sheet of metal extendingthe length of the drum and adjustably supported from bar 5l by bolts62,- and nuts screwed thereon and edge of the knife. tloning of the gageplate and it will oe obzuntil, at the instant they meet the knife 17,there is only such protrusion as is required to sever the desiredportions from the pod ends. As the pods are brought against the upperknife by the rotating drum, the cutting pressure is exerted in adirection which vtends to move the knife toward the 'in-l clined members21 of the stand. The

hinge members 50 engage such portions.

of the stand and prevent such movement of the upper knife. The entirestructure carried by the members 50, including bar 51, knife 17 and gageplate 18, may, however, be swung up' out of the operative position ifdesired.

The elements for mounting the lower knife and gage plate are. the sameas above described, but arranged somewhat differently. Hinge members 48are fastened to the lower ends of the inclined bars 21 of the stand, andconnected by pintles t9 to hinge members 50. The knife-supporting bar 51is adjustably mounted on members 50, as in the case of the upper lmife.The lower knife 17, however, is mounted on bar 51 in the reverseposition, with its cutting edge G1 toward the members 50, instead ofremote therefrom. The lower gage plate 18 is clamped in position betweenthe knife 17 and bar 51, but, like the upper gage plate, it has a gagingsurface 63, which approaches the surface of the drum as it nears theknife. In each case, the cutting edge of the knife is closely adjacentthe surface of the drum, so as to snip oft' the ends of the protrudingbean pods to the extent permitted by the gage plates. The lower knifeis' so mounted that the weight of the parts swings the hinge members 50against the frame members 21, or blocks secured thereto, which act asstops limiting the movement of the parts in that direction. Thestructure carried by the iower hinge members 50 is free, however, to-swing in the opposite direction, with the result that, if sticks, nailsor other hard substances, protrude through the perforations at thebottom of the drum and arecarried against the cutting edge of the lowerknife, they can swing it back out of the way, thus avoiding injury tothe knife. Such foreign materials are more apt to come through. at thebottom than at the top of the drum.

In operation a charge of bean pods is placed within the drum through'thecharge opening, said charge being sufficient to fill the drum aboutone-quarter full. The lid 14 is then put in piace and fastened by themeans described. During the charging operation, of course, the clutch isshifted to disconnect shaft 1G from the driving shaft 29 and the drum mabe rotated b the hand wheel to bring the charging opening into aconi'enient position. After the drum has been charged with bean pods andthe lid closed and fastened, thek clutch is shifted to connect the drumshaft 10 to the driving shaft 29 and the drum is rotated at a suitablespeed by the driving mechanism. The rotation of Vthe drum, incooperation with'the tumbling rods 15, throws the bean pods endwiseagainstthe perforated wail of the drum with the resuit that tapered endsof the bean pods project through perforations 13 in the drum wall and asthe drum revolves these projecting tapered endsengage the gage plate, asshown in Fig. 6, and are gradually pressed back through the perforationsuntil, at the time the bean pods are presented to the cut ting edge ofthe knife only that portion of the pods which it is desired to remove orsnip, protrude. This operation is clearly indicated in Fig. 6. The podhaving been snipped drops hack into the drum and is again thrown endwiseagainst the drum wall. Shipped ends, however, lacking the pronouncedtaper, hare little or no tendency to end into and through theperforations so' bean pods arerst thrown by the revolution Y of thedrumendwise against the upper part of the' drum and when the taperedends are snipped from such of these pods as prorude through perforationsin the upper part of the drum, the pods drop downwardly endwise towardthe lower part of the drum and in many instances the opposite ends ofsuch pods fall into and protrude through 'the perforations at the lowerpart of the drum with the result thatthe opposite tapered ends aresnipped by the lower cutting knife. The tumbling rods are rerv importantfactors in the successive operation of this machine, as they direct thepods endwise against the perforated wail in position such that thetapered ends are apt to protrude through the perfora-tions. Thesetumbling rods are spaced from the perforated wall and, conseqiuently`the entire surface of the drum wall can beV provided with a multiplicityof perforations. thus increasing to a maximum the chance of the end of abean pod being directed through a perforation in the drum wall. Afterthe drum has been rotated for the desired period. the ciutch is shiftedto disconnect the power drive. the lid lei. isV unfastened and removerLand the drum is rotated by the hand wheel 35 to the dumping position todischarge its contents. The drum maythen be rotated by the hand wheel toelevate the charging opening, a fresh charge put in place, the coverreplaced and the shipping operation repeated. The gage plates are veryuseful factors in promoting the eiliciencv of the machine, as theyprevent undue protrusion to the cutting edge of the bean pods and soprevent the machine from snipping oil' too much of the bean, therebyreducing waste to a minimum.

I have secured very good results from the use of a machine such asdisclosed in the accompanying drawings in which the drum is about fourfeet long and about three feet in diameter and in which I use fourtumbling rods equidistantly located from each other at about sii: inchesfrom the periphery of the drum and about a foot from the aXis thereof.rilhe perforations in the drum wall preferably about 9/32 of an inch indiameter at their constricted ends. I have found that, using` a machineof such dimensions and revolving the drum at a rate of about fiftyrevolutions per minute, using a charge of three and one-half bushels ofbeans which are rotated in the drum for nine min utes, I have been ableto snip twenty-one bushels of beans per hour, cutting both ends ofninety-eight per cent of all the beans. This machine, therefore,operates much more efliciently than any other machine with which I amfamiliar. In addition, it is simple in construction, not likely to getout of repair, and may be constructed at low cost.

I am aware that the machine disclosed herein is capable of considerablevariation without departing from the spirit of my invention and,therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appendedclaims.

l/Vhat I claim is:

l. A machine for trimming the ends of bean pods which comprises a hollowrotary drum Within which a charge of bean pods is contain-ed, said drumhaving its peripheral wall provided with a multiplicity of perforationsof such size as to permit the tapered ends of bean pods within said drumto extend endwise into said perforations and protrude beyond theperiphery of said drum, means for rotating said drum, ieans for activelystirring up and tumbling the bean pods within said drum so as to causelarge numbers thereof to be directed endwise ragainst said perforateperipheral wall and be projected into and protrude through saidperforations, said stirring means comprising a plurality of rodsextending across the inner face of said peripheral wall transverselythereof and spaced therefrom a distance such as to permit bean pods topass through the space between said rods and said wall when said drum isrotated, and a knife having an edge extending transversely across theouter face of said peripheral wall in close proximity thereto, whichedge engages and severs the protruding ends of the bean pods.

2. A machine for trimming the ends of bean pods which comprises a hollowrotary drum within which a charge of bean pods is contained, said drumhaving its' peripheral wall provided with a multiplicity of perforationsof such size as to permit the tapered ends of bean pods within said drumto extend endwise into said perforations and protrude beyond theperiphery of said drum, means for rotating said drum, means for activelystirring up and tumbling the bean pods within said drum so as to causelargenumbers thereof 'to be directed endwiseagainst said perforateperipheral wall and be projected into and protrude through saidperforations, said stirring means comprising a plurality of wid-elyspaced rods parallel to the axis of said drum, extending from end to endthereof, and spaced from the peripheral wall thereof a distance such topermit bean pods to pass through the space between said rods and saidwall when said drum is rotated, and a knife having an edge extendingtransversely across the outer face of said peripheral wall in closeproximity thereto, which edge engages and severs the protruding ends ofthe bean pods. 3. A machine for trimming the ends of bean pods whichcomprises a hollow rotary` drum within which the bean pods arecontained, said drumV having its peripheral walt provided with amultiplicity of perforation: of such size as to permit the tapered endsof bean pods within said drum to extend endwise into said perforationsand protrude beyond the periphery of said drum, means for rotating saiddrum, bean pod stirring and tumbling means within said drum operative byrotation of said drum to cause large numbers of unsnipped bean pods tobe directed endwise against said peripheral wall and be projected intoand protrude through said perforations, said stirring means comprising aplurality of rods extending across the inner face of said peripheralwall 'transversely thereof and spaced therefrom a distance such as topermit bean pods to pass through the space between said rods andV saidwall when said drum is rotated, an external frage mem*- ber spaced fromsaid peripheral wall, which gage member determines the extent ofprotrusion of said tapered pod ends through said perforations, and aknife having an edge extending transversely across the outer surfaceofisaid peripheral wall in proximity thereto for effecting severance ofthose portions of the pods which said gage member allows to protrude.

1i. A machine for trimming the vends o bean pods which comprises ahollow rotar;v drum within which the bean pods are contained, said drumhaving its peripheral wal"- provided with a multiplicity of perforationsof such size as to permit the tapered ends of bean pods within said drumto protrude endwise therethrough to a considerable extent, means forrotating said drum, bean pod stirring and tumbling means within 'saiddrum operative by rotation of said drum to cause large numbers ofunsnipped bean pods to be directed endwis-e against said peripheral.wall and be projected into said perforations and protrude beyond theperiphery of said drum,

I said stirring means comprising a'plurality portion of said of rodsextending across the inner face of peripheral wall transversely thereofand spaced therefrom a distance such as to permit bean pods to passthrough the space between said rods and said wall when said drum isrotated, knife having an edge extending transversely across the outer'surface'of said peripheral wall in close proximity thereto for severingthe portions of the pods which protrude through said perforations, andgage means for urging said protruding bean pod ends radially inwardly toprovide limited and uniform protrusion regardless of variations inthickness of saidpods, said gage Vmoans comprising a plate disposedtrans`r versely across the surface of said peripheral wall in advance ofsaid knife, the leading edge of said plate being spaced from saidperipheral wall a distance greater than the plate which is adjacent theknife edge.

5. A machine for trimming the ends of bean pods whichl comprises ahollow rotary drum within which the beanpods are contained and aretumbled, said drum having its peripheral wall provided with amultiplicity of outwardly tapering circular perforations which are ofsuch size as to permit tapered ends of bean pods within said drum toprotrude endwisetoa considerable extent through said perforations, meansfor rotating said drum and' tumbling bean pods into said perforations, aknife having an edge' extending transversely across the outer surface ofsaid peripheral wall in close proximity thereto for severing theportions of the pods which protrude through said p'erforations, and gagemeans for urging said protruding tapered bean pods radially inwardly toprovide limited' and uniform protrusion regardless of variations inthickness of said pods and also preventing said tapered ends from beingtightly wedged in said perforations, said gage means comprising a platedisposed transversely across the surface of said peripheral wall inadvance of said knife, the leading edge of said plate being spaced fromsaid peripheral wall a distance greater than the portion of said platewhich is adjacent said knife edge.

6. A machine for trimming the ends of bean pods which comprises a hollowrotary drum within which the bean pods are contained and are tumbled,said drum having its peripheral wall provided with a multiplicity ofperforations of such size as to permit the tapered ends of bean podswithin said drum to extend endwise into said perforationsana protrudebeyond the peripheryof said drum,

:a pair of external knives, one having an edge extending transverselyacross the external surface-"of the perforate wall adjacent the lowerportion of the drum, thejother having n an edge extending transverselyacross the extei-nal surface of the perforate wall Vadjacent c 'he upperportion of the drum, means for actively Ystirring up and tumbling thebean to fall endwise into perforations at a zone in advance ofthe lowerknife and bean pods are projected endwi'se into perforations at a zonedisposed beyond said lower knifeV and in advance ofsaid upper knifewhereby severance of protruding lunsevered bean; pod'v ends iseffected'- at vtwo distinct points during such rotation of the drum. c

'l'.A A machine for trimming the ends of bean pods which comprises ahollow rotary drum within which the bean' pods arev contained'and aretumbled, said drum having a peripheral wail provided with a multiplicityofperforations of such size a's to permit the tapered ends of bean podswithin said drum to extend endwise into said perforations and protrude'beyond the periphery of saidV drum, means for rotating said drum andtumbiing `said bean pods, a pivoted knife so disposed Vwith respect toits pivotpoint` as to normally rest, by reason of its own mass and theforce of gravity, with itsrcutting edge disposed transversely across theouter face of said peripheral wall in close proximity thereto and severthe protruding ends of bean pods, said knife, its center ofmass and itspivot point being so positioned with respect to said drumthat in theevent aforeign object incapable of severance without injury'to the knifeedge be engaged, said knife will be automatically'` swung out ofV itssaid normal position, and a gage plate carried by'sa-id pivoted knifea'ndextending in advance of the knifefedge, said gage plate being sodisl posed with respect to said pivot point as to be able to clearsaiddrum in the event said'knife is swung out of'normal position by reasonof object.` ,i

8. A machine for trimming the ends of bean pods which comprises a hollowrotary drum within which al chargeV of bean pods iscontained andtumbled, said drum having its peripheral wall provided with a multi`plicity of perforations of'such'size as to pervengagement of its edgesuch a foreign Y mit bean pods toenter endwise thereinand fallow theends, as well as portions of the tapered bodies of the beans, to extendendwise into said perforations andrprotrude to a considerableextentbeyond the periphery of said drum, means for rotating said drum andtumbling bean pods into said peforations, a

I*knife having its cutting edge extending transversely across the outersurface of said peripheralrwall in close proximity thereto for severingthe portions of the bean pods which protrude through said perforations,and a device for urging bean pods, disposed in said perforations andprotruding therethrough, radially inwardly so as to loosen i theircontact with the walls of said perforagreater than the knife-adjacentportion, and

protruding bean pods, in their movement toward said knife, are graduallyurged radially inwardly inV their perforations.

9. A machine for trimming-the ends of bean pods which comprises a hollowrotary drum within which a charge of bean pods is Conta-ined andtumbled, said drum having its peripheralv wall provided with amultiplicity of outwardly tapering circular perforations ,Ofsuch size asto permit bean pods to enter endwise therein and allow the ends, as wellas portions of the tapered bodies of the beans to extend endwise intosaid perforations and protrude to a considerable extent beyond theperiphery of said drum, means for rotating said drum and tumbling beanpods into said perforations, a knife having` its cutting edge extendingtransversely across the outer surface of said peripheral wall in closeproxf; imity thereto for severing the portions of the bean pods whichprotrude through said perforations, and a device for urging bean'pods,disposed in said perforations and protruding therethrough,radiallyinwardly so as to loosen their contact with the walls of saidperforations vand preclude their becoming wedged therein,` said devicecomprising a plate disposed across said drum immediately in advance ofsaid knife, which plate has its knife-adjacent portion slightly spacedfrom said peripheral wall, constituting a gage to limit the extent towhich bean pods disposed in said perforations may protrude, and havingits remaining portion flaring rearwardly and radially outwardlyV fromsaid knife-adjacent portion so that its surface first engaged by saidprotruding bean pod ends is spaced from the-peripheral wall of said druma distance greater than the knife-adjacent portion, and protruding beanpods, in their movement towardsaid knife, are gradually urged radiallyinwardly in their Vperforations. j

10. A machiney for trimming the ends of bean pods which comprises ahollow rotary drum within which a charge of bean pods is contained andtumbled, said drum having its peripheral wall provided withvamultiplicity of circular perforations having their inner portions ofcountersunk or enlarged conical form to facilitate endwise entrance ofbean pods therein, and having their outer portions of non-convergingform to reduce tendency of bean pods to become jammed therein, saidperforations being of such size as to permit bean pods to enter endwisetherein and allow the ends, as well as portions of the pered bodies ofthe beans, to extend endwise into said perforations and protrude to aconsiderable extent'beyond the periphery of said drum, means forrotating said drum and tumbling bean pods into said perforations, aknife having its cutting edge extending transversely across the outersurface of said peripheral wall in close proximity thereto for severingthe portions of the bean pods which protrude through said perforations,and a device for urging bean pods, disposed in said perforations andprotruding therethough, Y radially inwardlyso as to loosen their contactwith thewalls of said perforations-and preclude their becoming wedgedtherein, said device comprising a plate disposed across said drumimmediately in advance of said knife, which plate has its knife-adjacentportion slightly spaced from said peripheral wall, constituting a gageto {limit the extent to which bean pods disposed in said perforationsmay protrude, and having its rei'naining portion Haring rearwardly andradially out'- 1.

wardly from said knife-adjacent portion so that its surface firstengaged by said protruding bean pod ends is spaced from the peripheralwall of said drum a distance greater than the knife-adjacent portion,and protrud- Fiv Y ing bean pods, in their movement toward said knife,are gradually urged radially inwardly7 in their perforations. v uBENJAMIN I. BUCK. Y

